Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) seemed on track for a big win in November, with polls showing him with a big lead over Jack Carter (D), but Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (D) could shake this race up considerably. Goodman acknowledged this week that he’s discussed a Senate campaign with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.
* Putting an end to rumors, former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) said this week that he will not run for governor. The leading Republican candidate remains Rep. Bob Beauprez.
* As part of his continuing efforts to rally liberal support, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) will be in Vermont this weekend, campaigning alongside Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the favorite to succeed Jim Jeffords in the Senate.
* Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) is still not prepared to say whether he’ll run for another term in November, telling reporters yesterday, “I’m meditating very, very deeply here. I’ve got one more little stop I’ve got to make in Washington before I make that. I’ll be back in a few days.”
* Former Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) may also run against Tom DeLay in November, but as an independent. It would make it a three-way race with DeLay, former Rep. Nick Lampson (D), and Stockman. (This assumes DeLay is able to run for re-election.)
* The Southern Republican Leadership Conference will meet this weekend in Memphis, Tenn., and Bill Frist is worried about losing a straw-poll election for 2008. Frist alerted supporters through his political action committee to attend the gathering and vote in the straw poll so he doesn’t look bad.